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 Main Category: Swine Flu
Also Included In: Immune System / Vaccines; Primary Care / General
Practice; Nursing / Midwifery
Current Article Ratings:
Patient / Public:
Health Professional :
Examines the international fight against H1N1 (swine) flu,
including current efforts to produce an H1N1 vaccine and prepare
the northern hemisphere for the expected surge in infections this
fall. "While some companies have [vaccine] donation schemes for
the developing world … the lion's share will go to wealthy
countries, despite the fact that underlying health conditions make
populations in the developing world particularly vulnerable," the
magazine writes.
As such, "Developing countries need to be clever about managing
the doses they receive, for instance by immunizing front-line
health workers, says Richard Coker of the Communicable Diseases
Policy Research Group at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine."
Still, even a mild pandemic would prove challenging for developing
countries, Coker said. "We've looked at the pandemic preparedness
plans in developing countries and we've found that almost across
the board the resources just aren't there to implement plans
effectively. It's going to be very difficult for these countries,"
Coker said.
The Miami Herald examines the efforts being made in Costa Rica -
the country with "the highest number of [H1N1] cases - and
fatalities" in Central America - to stop the spread of H1N1.
There, according to the newspaper, the country health officials
have shifted their focus from testing for the H1N1 virus to
"protecting the most vulnerable from further medical
complications, including pregnant women, obese persons, asthmatics
and those suffering from lung and heart conditions," as
recommended by the WHO. The article includes information about the
complications posed by the fact both the seasonal flu and H1N1 flu
are circulating in the region at the same time.
Fox News explores the debate over whether to treat children with
flu-like symptoms with the antiviral Tamiflu after a group of
scientists released a study Monday showing "the antiviral drug
does little to 'cure' sick children with the H1N1 virus, and the
medication's potentially harmful side effects outweigh the
benefits." The news organization notes, "it appears those
researchers are all alone in their thinking.
In a statement to journalists, the WHO said people severely sick
with the H1N1 virus - including children - need to be promptly
treated with Tamiflu." The FDA is also on board with the
recommendation to treat children with Tamiflu, "deeming the drug
safe for children as young as 1 year old".
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